Thank Yourself Happy
ArticlesWhat's so special about Thanksgiving? Why do we love it so much? Is it for family? For the feast? While these things contribute to the holiday spirit, Thanksgiving's popularity might actually be caused by a simple emotion – gratitude. This quintessentially American holiday reminds us to give thanks for all the good people and things in our lives. As it turns out, being grateful makes us feel happier. In fact, according to the Harvard Mental Health Letter, “expressing thanks may...
Athletes & Chocolate Milk – A Winning Combination
ArticlesLet's face it: post-workout recovery products can be a little scary. Many contain a long list of mysterious, hard-to-pronounce ingredients. They usually carry a hefty price tag. It's hard to tell them apart, or know which one is best. But there's good news: scientists have identified one of the best products for post workout recovery – and it's good old chocolate milk! Chocolate milk rehydrates the body and aids muscle recovery. It naturally contains significant levels of electrolytes (potassium, calcium...
Eliminating Trans Fat
Nutrition, From Our KitchenWhile SAGE believes that all foods fit into a nutritious diet, there is one nutrient out there that doesn't fit. It has no redeeming quality, and it's called trans fat. Trans fat is directly linked to heart disease. It raises levels of bad cholesterol and lowers levels of good cholesterol. This information has led the FDA to propose a ban on trans fats for good. If the decision is approved, partially hydrogenated oils will be phased out of all foods...
Eat What You Can, Can What You Can't
Nutrition, Sustainability, From Our Kitchen, GardensCanning fruits and vegetables has made a big comeback. Sales of home canning equipment have surged since 2008, in large part due to a growing interest in eating more healthfully and reviving traditions from a simpler time. Late summer is a great time to take advantage of the bounty of your home garden or your local farmer's market and create some treats that will last through the winter. Canning has become so popular Ball canning jars has partnered with Canning...
5 Rules for Picking Summer Produce
Nutrition, Sustainability, From Our Kitchen, GardensHave you ever bought produce only to find it's too ripe, or not ripe enough? It can be challenging to choose perfect produce every time. We've put together five simple rules to guide your purchases this summer: Trust your sense of smell. The scent of some produce can help determine whether it's ripe. Fruit should smell fragrant, particularly melons, berries and stone fruits like plums, peaches and nectarines. Handle with care. Ripe fruits like plums should yield to gentle pressure...
Is The Yogurt Aisle All Greek To You?
From Our KitchenWhen's the last time you visited the yogurt section of your local grocery store? It can be hard to know what to look for – there are so many varieties of yogurt to choose from! Should you pick Greek or regular yogurt? Can you still enjoy yogurt if you're lactose intolerant? Here's the scoop on all things yogurt: How Is It Made? All yogurt is made the same way: add cultures to pasteurized milk. The resulting bacteria in turn causes...
Going Vegetarian
From Our KitchenVegetarianism is trending across the United States. Health organizations have consistently encouraged us to eat more fruits and vegetables, and “going veggie” is a natural extension of that trend. It seems easy enough to understand – but did you know there are different types of vegetarians? - Lacto-ovo vegetarian : the most common type of vegetarian. Lacto-ovo vegetarians don't eat meat or fish, but do eat dairy and eggs. - Lacto-vegetarian : consumes no meat, fish or eggs, but will...
Living With Celiac
Nutrition, From Our KitchenBreakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but for those of us who can't eat gluten, it can also be a huge hassle. Conventional breakfast foods like toast, bagels, donuts, pancakes, waffles, cereal, and most oatmeals are all off limits. Gluten-free baked goods have improved by leaps and bounds over the last decade, spurred on by increasing interest in the diet. Taste-wise, however, they still haven't caught up. These products tend to be dry, chalky, or tasteless...